After a one-year sabbatical, the Philadelphia 76ers are likely headed to the playoffs this year. While the race is still on for an outright playoff berth in the East, it is quite difficult to envision this team not even making it out of the play-in tournament, that is, if they will be forced to even partake in those sudden death matches.
Nevertheless, assuming that they make it in, the 76ers actually possess something new this time around — being free from the weight of expectations. Not a lot of people even have them making a deep run in the playoffs which is probably fair, although it remains a dicey proposition given that this team remains one of the most loaded ones in the league at full strength.
Having said that, this squad will probably take that sentiment. The wildcard label is easy to toss around, but this season’s team is especially difficult to predict. But the very fact that this team will be entering the postseason relatively free from pressure and being clear underdogs might just unlock a more assertive version of themselves.
The 76ers will enter the playoffs with no pressure — which makes them the biggest wildcard
Barring a drastic freefall from the teams above them, the 76ers will most likely play one of the Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, and Cavaliers. They will certainly be not favored in any of those matchups, but they cannot be counted out right from the get-go.
Underdog stories are the most celebrated ones, but they are typically rare in this league. That has not been the case in recent years, though, as teams like the Miami Heat (who were the eighth seed back then and had to go through the play-in) and the Indiana Pacers (who were not favored in any of their playoff matchups) found a way to make it all the way to the NBA Finals.
Like those teams, the 76ers are not considered a fringe contender, much less an inner-circle contender. But what goes in their favor is the fact that they pack more raw talent than those teams, which makes them a dangerous bunch in the postseason.
As long as health permits them, the 76ers have every reason to get even more assertive in their winning cause in the playoffs. They technically have nothing to lose this season anyway, so the lack of expectations relative to their counterparts should allow them to move more freely. After all, this team has not fared as well being the favored party in recent years.